Getting your benefits right

RECEIVING health care, payment of a pension and entitlement to social security benefits should be easier thanks to reciprocal arrangements between EU countries.

These arrangements mean that people from within the European Economic Area are treated the same and have their benefit rights protected.
In theory there is no problem in having income from investments or a UK private or state pension paid to you in France.
As a retired person you will be entitled to the full use of the French health care system on the same basis as a French person.
The E111 form covers health agreements between the UK and France, which is a certificate for the entitlement to treatment.
However, although it is open ended and valid for life you must be continuing to make social security contributions in the UK.
And if you move to France and become resident then the E111 becomes invalid.
The reciprocal agreements also cover things such as sickness and maternity benefits, unemployment and family benefits.
The basic principle is to make sure that if you have made contributions, or are doing, that you do not lose out and that you should be only subject to the rules of one country.
For more information check out the Department for Work and Pensions site, click here…
Also you may want to download a PDF document that covers social security insurance, benefits and health care rights, from here… (Right click on link and save to desk top).